Home Depot Fires Texas Veteran for Trying to Stop Thieves

A 70-year-old Army veteran was recently fired from a Pearland, Texas Home Depot after violating the company's policy prohibiting non-security personnel from from pursuing shoplifters.

On the one hand, the policy is there to protect employees. On the other hand, isn't it bad form to fire a veteran for trying to do the right thing?

In the video above, Jim Tinney says he knows he violated the company policy, but he thinks that firing him was heavy handed.

Tinney had noticed three men trying to steal sets of tools from the Home Depot location and reacted by throwing a paint roller extension at one of the thieves' feet. No one was injured and the men got away.

Stephen Holmes is the director of corporate communications for Home Depot and said, "What I can tell you now is that we have a strict policy that only our trained security personnel can pursue and engage shoplifters. We've had deaths and serious injury over the years, and no amount of merchandise is more important than the safety of our associates and customers."